Finance and Financial Management Services at Florida Gulf Coast University

Florida Gulf Coast's finance program quietly outperforms most expectations for a school with a 77% admission rate. Graduates earn $55,882 in their first year—ahead of both the national median ($53,590) and the Florida median ($51,633)—and see strong earnings growth to nearly $71,000 by year four. At 60th percentile among Florida finance programs, FGCU graduates earn more than those from over half the state's finance schools, despite competing against flagship programs like UF and UM that draw higher-SAT students.

The debt picture reinforces the value proposition. At $21,239, student borrowing sits below both state and national medians, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.38. This means graduates owe less than five months of their first-year salary—a manageable starting point for building wealth in a finance career. The 27% earnings jump from year one to year four suggests graduates are advancing into more lucrative roles quickly, which makes sense for a field where professional credentials and experience compound over time.

For families considering finance programs in Florida without the price tag or admission requirements of UF or UM, FGCU delivers comparable early-career outcomes at what appears to be lower financial risk. The combination of moderate debt, above-average starting salaries, and strong income growth makes this a solid choice for students who want access to Florida's financial services industry.